Gallagher, S. M., & Keenan, M. (2000).
Independent use of activity materials by the elderly in a residential setting.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
33, 325-328.
A lottery was implemented to encourage the elderly clients of a
residential home to use activity materials any time they wished,
independently of staff intervention and the institutional routine
of the home. During baseline, there were minimal levels of
independent use of activity materials by residents. Various
conditions were implemented but only the introduction of a £20
lottery prize brought about a significant increase in the
frequency of independent use of activity materials. A follow-up
suggested that the reinforcing properties of the activity
materials themselves eventually maintained the target behavior.
DESCRIPTORS: _gerontology, activity materials, residential
setting, elderly